TERMS OF REFERENCE | CONSULTANCY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NUTRITION ACTION ZIMBABWE (NAZ) STRATEGIC PLAN (2026–2030)

Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ)

PVO Registration  PVO 38/19

Assignment Title   Consultancy to Develop the NAZ Strategic Plan ()

Duration of Assignment   45 Working Days

Reporting To   NAZ Executive Director

Proposed Strategy Period   

1. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to achieving a Zimbabwe free from hunger and malnutrition. The organizations work is guided by its vision and mission to reduce chronic malnutrition through high-impact interventions in Nutrition Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Gender and Social Behavior Change (SBC) mainstreaming.

The period was marked by significant growth including scaling up reach to over 1.2 million people in 25 districts and a successful programmatic shift from purely humanitarian response to a proactive focus on resilience-building and anticipatory action.

NAZ is now seeking an experienced Consultant to facilitate the strategic planning process for the next five-year cycle (). This new strategy must be grounded in the learning and recommendations from the strategic review and incorporate emerging global best practices with a strong focus on sustainability impact and a clear alignment with the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. The strategy will need to incorporate changes in the humanitarian and development sector particularly a strategic focus on trade value proposition for community level interventions. The Consultant will have to prove a significant analysis of this shift of the sectors priorities beyond this transition period.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY

The main objective is to develop a comprehensive actionable and results-oriented NAZ Strategic Plan for .

Specific objectives include:

1. Conduct a comprehensive strategic review that analyzes the performance and context of the strategy identifying lessons learned opportunities and constraints from both programmatic and organizational perspectives.
2. Facilitate the revision of NAZs Vision Mission and Core Values and define a new set of strategic goals objectives and key results for .
3. Develop a robust Theory of Change (ToC) and a clear Results Framework/Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Plan for the new strategic period.
4. Identify and integrate core strategic pillars/cross-cutting themes that address both rural and urban vulnerabilities climate resilience and organizational systems strengthening.

3. SCOPE OF WORK (SOW)

The Consultant shall execute the following four phases of work:

Phase I: In-Depth Analysis and Diagnostics

1. Document Review: Analyze all key NAZ documents including the previous Strategic Plan the Program Report and the comprehensive set of presentations and minutes from the June/July 2025 Strategic Review.
2. Contextual Analysis: Conduct a robust PESTEL analysis of the operating environment in Zimbabwe paying close attention to climate risks socio-economic volatility and national/global development agendas (e.g. Vision 2030 SDGs) strategic focus of funding agencies and incorporate approaches that identify partnership opportunities with institutional donors private foundations and private sector firms.
3. Internal Audit (SWOT): Conduct internal analysis that goes beyond programs to deeply assess Organizational Development specifically addressing governance partnerships and operational aspects critical for the success of the organization.  

Phase II: Strategic Formulation (ENHANCED FOCUS)

1. Thematic Prioritization and Global Integration: The Consultant must facilitate the definition of 3-5 core Strategic Pillars driven by the gaps identified by the technical team and aligned with the best global practices:

A. Nutrition & Health

• • Dual Burden of Malnutrition: Explicitly address both Chronic Undernutrition (stunting micronutrient deficiency in adolescents/schools) and the emerging threat of Overnutrition (overweight/obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases - NCDs) through a whole-of-life approach.
  • IYCF & Exclusive Breastfeeding: Define clear high-impact strategies to address the confirmed low prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding (BF) including research and Barrier-Facilitator Analysis to understand the root causes.
  • Integration and Specialized Groups: Prioritize multisectoral layering of nutrition with FSL/WASH/Gender/Youth and develop targeted strategies for key vulnerable groups: Adolescent Nutrition Nutrition in HIV/Mental Health and the Operationalization of School Nutrition Strategies.
  • Governance & Advocacy: Strengthen Nutrition Governance by generating evidence and collaborating with government and religious/community leaders to embed nutrition in policies and other sectors.

B. Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL)

• • Climate-Resilient Food Systems: Shift the focus from singular Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) techniques to a comprehensive Climate-Resilient Food Systems approach encompassing production market access value addition and environmental management.
  • Market-Led Pathways: Prioritize Market-Inclusive Livelihoods through formalized Value Chain Development producer-consumer hubs and private sector engagement (e.g. two-tiered egg incubator model for vulnerable and productive groups).
  • Environmental Management & Conservation: Integrate Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) and conservation principles by addressing Soil Health Water Table Recharge and Vegetation Loss as core FSL concerns leveraging approaches like agroecology and sustainable livestock management (mobile kraaling mobile veterinary services).
  • Urban Food Security: Define specific replicable models for Urban Agriculture (hydroponics drip irrigation) and diversification of urban livelihood options.

C. Cross-Cutting & Strategic Innovation

• • Gender-Transformative Approaches (GTA): Move beyond gender mainstreaming to fully embed Gender-Transformative approaches (e.g. expanding SAA/GALS) that actively challenge harmful norms ensure Child Safeguarding and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
  • Youth & Economic Empowerment: Address the challenge of low young mother attendance through flexible scheduling and scaling up Youth Hubs that incorporate nutrition messaging into context-specific economic/entrepreneurship activities.
  • Evidence-Based Social Behavior Change (SBC): Ensure all SBC strategies are data-driven utilizing Barrier-Facilitator Analysis to tailor communication and scale up successful innovations like the use of mid and mass media.
  • Digitalization and Data: Develop a strategy for robust Digital Data Management (e.g. use of basic digital tools satellite vegetation monitoring) to improve the flow and quality of data from the community to the National Level platform enhancing timely decision-making and accountability.
  • Theory of Change (ToC) Development: Facilitate the development of a clear evidence-based Theory of Change for the strategy linking NAZs core integrated interventions to desired long-term impact.
  • Goal and Objective Setting: Define 3-5 high-level strategic goals and corresponding measurable objectives and key results (OKRs or similar).

Phase III: Results Framework and Implementation Planning

1. Results Framework & M&E Plan: Develop a comprehensive Results Framework (logframe or equivalent) with clear indicators baselines (where possible) targets and means of verification for the strategy.
2. Resource Mobilization & Partnership Strategy: Define a clear strategy for funding diversification partnership due diligence and leveraging NAZs existing technical capacities (e.g. agroecology SBC emergency programming). Expand the focus beyond institutional donors to private foundations and private sector firms through partnership that can develop communities.
3. Risk Management Framework: Outline key strategic and operational risks for the period and propose mitigation strategies.

Phase IV: Deliverables and Validation

1. Draft Strategy: Produce a comprehensive first draft of the Strategic Plan based on all previous phases.
2. Validation Workshop: Facilitate a final workshop with the NAZ Board and Senior Management to present review and validate the final draft of the Strategic Plan.

4. KEY DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1 Inception Report

Description  Detailed work plan methodology schedule stakeholder list and initial findings from document review.

Due Date (TBD) 8 days after contract signing

Deliverable 2 Stakeholder Consultation Report

Description  Summary of findings from interviews and workshops including key thematic priorities and OD gaps.

Due Date (TBD)  15 after contract signing

Deliverable 3 Draft Strategic Plan (2026-2030)

Description  Comprehensive documents including: Vision Mission ToC Strategic Pillars Goals Objectives Results Framework and M&E Plan.

Due Date (TBD)  25 after contract signing

Deliverable 4 Validation Workshop

Description  Facilitate a half-day session with NAZ leadership and board members to finalize and adopt the strategy.

Due Date (TBD)  35 days after contract signing

Deliverable 5 Final Strategic Plan (2026-2030)

Description  Final polished print-ready document incorporating all feedback from the Validation Workshop.

Due Date (TBD)  45 Days after contract signing

Qualifications :

5. CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERTISE

The selected consultant/firm must demonstrate the following:

1. Experience: Minimum of 8 years of proven experience in strategic planning organizational development and results-based management preferably within the non-profit or international development sector in Southern Africa.
2. Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of development programming particularly in the sectors of Nutrition/Public Health Food Security Livelihoods Resilience/Climate Action Agri Business and Markets and Gender/Youth/SBC.
3. Strategic Competency: Demonstrated capacity in developing Theories of Change Results Frameworks and M&E Plans.
4. Facilitation Skills: Excellent track record in facilitating high-level workshops stakeholder consultations and engaging senior leadership and board members.
5. Report Writing: Proven ability to produce clear concise well-structured and timely reports (samples of previous strategic plans developed may be requested).
6. Contextual Awareness: Demonstrated understanding of the Zimbabwean development context including linkages with national policies and global agendas (e.g. NDS2 SDGs Agro-Ecology Policy Food and Nutrition Security Policy).

6. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following to the smartrecruiters platform.

1. Technical Proposal: Outlining the consultants understanding of the TORs the proposed methodology work plan with timelines and a proposed team structure.
2. Financial Proposal: Detailed budget breakdown showing consultancy fees expected reimbursable expenses and taxes.
3. Curriculum Vitae (CVs): For the lead consultant and any proposed team members.
4. References: Contact details with reference letter from at least two (2) organizations where similar work has been successfully completed.
5. Example Work: One example of a recently completed Strategic Plan or similar policy document (confidentiality will be respected).

Additional Information :

HOW TO APPLY 

Use this smart recruiters platform link  to upload the requuired documents as higlighted in Section 6 and to input any other essential information in the  data fields on the platform by the 6th of February 2026: 

Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) upholds the highest standards of integrity and accountability in all its operations. We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy towards fraud sexual exploitation and abuse harassmentincluding sexual harassmentand discrimination. To safeguard our values and ensure transparency all candidates selected for recruitment will undergo comprehensive reference and background checks.

It is important to note that NAZ does not request require or accept any form of payment at any stage of the recruitment process. Any solicitation of payment in exchange for recruitment consideration is fraudulent undermines our principles and must be reported without delay. This safeguard ensures that our recruitment practices remain fair merit-based and free from exploitation.

For verification or reporting concerns please contact:

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Remote Work :

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Employment Type :

Contract